A good number of universities and businesses have already upgraded to Win8 throughout. The stuff on offer like Win8 automatic app deployment, AppLocker security and user safety, BranchCache web efficiency, Window 8 To Go with the entire o/s on a stick, VDI enhancements including 3D and touch, and DirectAccess to handle remotes, is just a few reasons.

Let's put this into context. When Lockheed Martin licensed ESP from Microsoft the vice president of Engineering at Lockheed Martin’s Simulation, Training & Support business unit said “The training needs of our military and civil government customers continue to expand. Seeking out and developing new innovative solutions such as this one based on the proven Microsoft ESP technology allows Lockheed Martin to provide our customers with new and tailored training systems more quickly and cost efficiently.”

 

To get an idea of the scale of this line of business, I Googled “Lockheed Martin Training Contracts” and the results on the first page include:

• A five-year indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity training and technical support services contract from the U.S. Coast Guard. – $57M
• A contract to continue providing the US Army with the production, assembly, training and deployment of virtual local area network training units. -  $22M
• A contract from the USAF to upgrade weapons systems trainers used in the C-130 Aircrew Training System (ATS) II - $24M
• A five-year contract from the US Army to upgrade combat vehicle simulators for soldier training and to expand the training capability for the Marine Corps - $114M
•  G3 Training and Readiness Support Service contract and a three-year period of performance for the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command - $89M
• Contract to train Royal Saudi Air Force pilots and mechanics to fly and maintain the new F-15SA fighter jets - $253M.

That’s over half a billion dollars. Somehow i don’t believe Lockheed Martin needs 3PDs

 

P3D’s development must, surely, be driven by the need to support such contracts– not by the need (desire?) of the flight simulation community.

 

And how much $$$ is LM making from Academic Licenses of P3D? Come on, by the way some talk around here and demand P3D does this and that, I want to say it must be up there with Royal Saudis.

 

:Whistle:

And how much $$$ is LM making from Academic Licenses of P3D?

 

I would say well under 1% of there $46.499 billion in yearly revenue  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

 

P3D isn't a money maker for the largest defence company in the world. Barely a blip on their radar screen

 

Cheers

Where's your evidence to show that sales of PCs with Windows 7  are on the increase and that only PC's that come with Win8 are on the decline?

 

Plenty of articles and data out with a Google search, C/NET, InfoWorld, Tom's hardware, and many more ... http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-57573370-75/four-months-in-windows-8-needs-help/ .... http://www.tomshardware.com/news/Windows-8-Windows-RT-Discount-Licensing-Fee-OEM,21392.html  .... google search "Windows 8 sales" and you'll see a LOT more negative reports than positive ones 13 out of 15 from the first page of hits.

 

 

The total number of custom PC builds and system upgrades are trivial in relation to the totals and lost in the noise.

 

How can you define that?  No one, not even IDC is tracking "system upgrades" so I don't understand how you could make that statement?  Again, just like IDC wasn't tracking software downloads in their PC software sales numbers until very recently ... some bad assumptions.

 

Remember the iPod, that was also described as "noise" by Ballmer.  Then the iPhone hit the market and it was described as "too expensive   no one would buy it" - again by Ballmer.  So out of the "noise" comes Apple.  The "noise" is what large companies overlook and under estimate until it's too late.

 

 

A good number of universities and businesses have already upgraded to Win8 throughout.

 

None of the companies I work with have upgraded, none of our clients have upgraded (not a single one), my IT friends working at large banks like Wells Fargo and BofA haven't upgrade (heck, they're just finishing up Win7 corporate images).  Myself and my developer friends obviously have some Win8 test systems, but that for testing.  Maybe the UK is a little more progressive than the US and can adapt to change more quickly.

You can just google 'percentage windows 8 users online' to find out who is using what online. Like this graph as this was from a month after Christmas when there was expected to be a jump in Windows 8 users online (there wasn't):

 

Source: http://thenextweb.com/microsoft/2013/02/01/windows-8-grabs-2-36-market-share-but-fails-to-offset-windows-losses-as-windows-7-declines-for-the-first-time/

 

I am sure Tom has a report that shows what AVSIM members are using as well.

 

Plenty of articles and data out with a Google search, C/NET, InfoWorld, Tom's hardware, and many more ... http://www.tomshardw...-OEM,21392.html .... google search "Windows 8 sales" and you'll see a LOT more negative reports than positive ones 13 out of 15 from the first page of hits.

 

You have misundertood my point which was about the relative sales of PC and tabletsand was not about sales of Window 8.

 

 

How can you define that? No one, not even IDC is tracking "system upgrades" so I don't understand how you could make that statement?

 

By the application of reason. Corporations don't build their own PCs and there are very few individuals with sufficient interest or ability to build their own.

 

 

None of the companies I work with have upgraded, none of our clients have upgraded (not a single one)

 

 Again you are referring to Windows 8 not PC sales relative to Tablets. Anyway, I'd be surprised if they had. It can involve a significant cost and effort effort for a company to change it's operating system and I've never known one that did immediately after release.

 

 

And how much $$$ is LM making from Academic Licenses of P3D? Come on, by the way some talk around here and demand P3D does this and that, I want to say it must be up there with Royal Saudis.

And I doubt Lockheed Martin's making much money out of its other licences either. The real money will surely come from its major training contracts. P3D is one of its tools to help it win those contracts.

This http://www.neowin.net/news/former-microsoft-pm-silverlight-is-dead is a rare interview with a Microsoft PM from the now dead Silverlight technology (Scott Barnes) - it's actually about how Microsoft "terminates" a technology.  But it demonstrates the human side of ex-Microsoft project managers and the very rare vocal ones.

 

Might be some similarities on how Phil Taylor was "informed" or maybe not - Phil obviously moved on with no drama, but it does underscore some poor internal relations at Microsoft and how groups/PMs are left out to pasture -- huge internal disconnect and it get reflected in those products Microsoft produce.

 

Keep in mind this was almost 2 years ago ... but his comments on Windows 8 long before it's release appear to be valid today.

Microsoft's profits for the 1st quarter of this year were up by 17% compared with the same period last year.

 

Apple's profits are down by 18% for the same period.

 

Perhaps Microsoft's getting something right despite Steve Balmer being in charge?

Nothing I can find shows that those profits had much to do with Windows 8, though.

BTW Office as a subscription model is an example of doing something right, it's something I use personally and will be migrating to at work.

 

 

Microsoft's profits for the 1st quarter of this year were up by 17% compared with the same period last year.

 

Profits or Revenue?  I see Revenue is up, but Profit is down ... BUT, Microsoft are still reporting a "profit" which is good.

 

http://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-brings-in-2049-billion-in-revenue-for-q1-2013

 

http://www.extremetech.com/computing/153837-microsoft-reports-weak-windows-8-sales-in-q1-2013-says-it-will-respond-to-customer-feedback

 

The Windows division, due to the lackluster launch of Windows 8, saw no growth at all. With Microsoft still resolutely refusing to provide official sales figures, the poor performance of the Windows division is the strongest sign yet that Windows 8 is failing.

 

Microsoft's Enterprise/Business divisions are keeping them profitable ... but for how long?  Microsoft has successfully killed some key business technologies in favor of "consumer" side ... and the consumer side (Windows 8 and Windows App store) didn't work out for them.

 

The amusing part ...  

 

says it will “respond to customer feedback”

 

This is EXACTLY what they said when Vista failed ... to the letter.  When they release Windows 8.1 (blue) this year it will be sold exactly the same way they sold Windows 7 making the consumer think they somehow influenced it's content/direction ... implying a shift of blame onto the consumer if it failed again.  Around the idea "we did what you wanted, so if that doesn't work it's YOUR fault" -- pure arrogance.  But seriously, how many people here think they have "influenced" Microsoft's changes for Windows 8.1 (blue)?  Anyone get a survey?  Did Microsoft call you?  Were you asked to be in their Win 8.1 focus group?

 

Not sure why you introduced Apple into the mix -- Apple don't appear to be an enigma

 

 

I see Revenue is up, but Profit is down

 

Don't let the facts get in the way.

 

Your first link doesn't mention profit/operating income but the second begins:

 

Microsoft has reported healthy profits of $6.06 billion for the first quarter of 2013 (fiscal Q3), up almost 19% year-over-year (YOY).

 

 

It also contains  a table showing  revenue and operating income for the various division. Windows Division operating income is up 23% compared with the  same quarter last year.

 

Your first link doesn't mention profit/operating income but the second begins:

First article says 6.06 Billion Net Income (aka revenues over outlays) which is profit.

 

It also contains a table showing revenue and operating income for the various division. Windows Division operating income is up 23% compared with the same quarter last year.

If you look at 3 month yes, but take a look at 9 month (that's more important than single quarter).

 

And a more recent article, Window 8 is the New Coke: http://www.zdnet.com/windows-8-microsofts-new-coke-moment-7000014779/

 

It can't be good to see Windows 8 usage still below Windows Vista after 8 months ... Surface RT is beyond dismal (not even a statistical blip). But once again, when pressed Microsoft releases numbers of 100 Million licenses completely ignoring the "downgrade" that comes with most computers these days -- technically that registers with Microsoft as a "sold license" even when never used/installed on a computer.

 

I think the real question is how will Microsoft recover?

 

1. Windows blue 8.1 - Windows 8 with minor changes

2. WaaS (sell Windows as a cloud service)

3. Accept that Desktop computing and Mobile computing are significantly different to warrant different paths and dump Metro (aka flat UI touch screens) on the desktop?

 

My guess is Microsoft will likely continue with #1 and adopt #2 for desktop computing, I can't see Ballmer swallow his pride and accept option #3.

 

Personally I think they should continue to try and penetrate the Mobile market, but not at the cost of sacrificing their bread and butter desktop market.